The outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan and the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari exchanged pleasantries less than 24 hour to inauguration of the latter.
Buhari while receiving handover notes said that President Jonathan has changed the course of Nigeria’s political history for good.
The ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa after Buhari and the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, were conducted round some offices and facilities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The president-elect stated that Jonathan’s singular act of conceding defeat has not only deserved the respect of Nigerians but also of world leaders.
Buhari said: “Until I read and digest this notes from the President, I don’t think I will be in a position to make any strong contribution.
“But what I will say is since the telephone call you made, you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history. For that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi party democracy and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.
“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand, a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.
“If you had wanted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of lives of poor Nigerians, but you chose the part of honour and may God help all of us. Thank you very much your Excellency.”
General Buhari, who will drop his title after inauguration, was accompanied by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun, members of the two parties’ transition committees, Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Spokesman of the party, Alhaji Lai Muhammed.
It should be noted that Jonathan handed over the notes on May 28, Thursday, at the council chamber of the State House, Abuja.
The outgoing president also presented a copy of the report of the National Conference which held in 2014, to the president-elect.
The presentation was made after President Jonathan took Buhari and his VP-elect, Yemi Osinbajo, around the Aso Rock villa.
Buhari while receiving handover notes said that President Jonathan has changed the course of Nigeria’s political history for good.
The ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa after Buhari and the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, were conducted round some offices and facilities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The president-elect stated that Jonathan’s singular act of conceding defeat has not only deserved the respect of Nigerians but also of world leaders.
Buhari said: “Until I read and digest this notes from the President, I don’t think I will be in a position to make any strong contribution.
“But what I will say is since the telephone call you made, you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history. For that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi party democracy and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.
“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand, a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.
“If you had wanted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of lives of poor Nigerians, but you chose the part of honour and may God help all of us. Thank you very much your Excellency.”
General Buhari, who will drop his title after inauguration, was accompanied by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun, members of the two parties’ transition committees, Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Spokesman of the party, Alhaji Lai Muhammed.
It should be noted that Jonathan handed over the notes on May 28, Thursday, at the council chamber of the State House, Abuja.
The outgoing president also presented a copy of the report of the National Conference which held in 2014, to the president-elect.
The presentation was made after President Jonathan took Buhari and his VP-elect, Yemi Osinbajo, around the Aso Rock villa.
